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Arena - Songs From The Lions Cage

Artist:	Arena
Title:	Songs From The Lions Cage
Label:	Verglas VGCD001
Length(s):	58 minutes
Year(s) of release:	1995
Month of review:	09/1995

Line up

John Carson - vocals
Keith More - guitars
Clive Nolan - keyboards
Cliff Orsi - bass
Mick Pointer - drums

Tracks

1)	Out Of The Wilderness	8.02
2)	Crying For Help I	1.22
3)	Valley Of The Kings	10.10
4)	Crying For Help II	3.08
5)	Jericho	6.50
6)	Crying For Help III	4.24
7)	Midas Vision	4.36
8)	Crying For Help IV	5.50
9)	Solomon	14.37

Summary

Well, I guess everybody is by now familiar with the name Arena. Do-all Nolan together with ex-Marillion drummer Pointer doing their bit and as a consequence being heralded as the saviours of progressive rock or in as many cases being accused of milking the already sold cow called Marillion. Some people have even suggested that the drumming on the album is not done by Pointer, but by a computer. This controversy was one of the reasons that I was interested in hearing this album. So I did.

The music

After listening to this album a few times, one thought comes to mind: why do people bother with the fact that Pointer plays on this: it doesn't sound like Marillion and it's not less because of it. Pointer writes the music together with Nolan it states and I do think that a drum computer has been used in some parts, much like Aragon did this on Don't Bring the Rain. For me, I rather hear actual drums but some things can hardly be played by humans and so I think if people want it then alright. I've no problem with that. What I did notice is that the tracks were recorded not by a band but individually and that the combining of the several resulting tracks was done later. Personally I do not like this way of working because it strikes me as unband-like.

Although it doesn't sound like Marillion (maybe some reminders of Grendel along the way), the structure of the songs reminds me more of for instance IQ's Ever and even Pendragon is a better candidate for soundalike (closing solo in the last track). Also, the music isn't strikingly original while the participation of Nolan is obvious in the structure and melody lines (The second part of Crying for Help reminded me very much of Silent Companion for instance).

I will this time not really go over the tracks one by one, but will point out that most the melodies are quite good making this effort maybe even up to par with that other Nolan related project Casino (although the presence of Mann on that album makes that effort a little more worthwhile). Not all melodies are that good and sometimes they are a bit too sweet for my tastes.

Another thing that struck me was the use of biblical references in the titles. As it is most lyrics are concerned with people and ideas and not with situations as such and one might point out biblical morals in them (if only I knew what they were).

Technically everything seems to be in order (that is: as far as I can tell, which isn't far). Because of the low originality the album stands with the quality of the emotions evoked and mostly the melodies used. Both seem to be very much in order, making the guitar tear at one time, playing a catchy riff the other and leaving it to the keyboards to fill the songs up with tension building up.

Conclusion

A good album: good melodies, good vocals, good musicianship, but nothing outstanding and most of it heard before one way or the other. I think people should forget that Pointer plays a long (or at least judge the album for its merit, even though the record company would preferably not do so, because of financial reasons). Sometimes up-tempo and rough, but mostly sinister and subdued. The interludes in the form of Crying for Help part .. work well in the sense that they make sure that the sameness tht might be present between the other songs does not become too apparent. This is not to say that sameness is bad, but one track like the other following makes it tiring to listen at times. Funny thing about this album is that I'm constantly reminded of Asia, but for the life of it, I can't tell why.

BTW: the singer has left Arena already and so no concerts for a while and I know that their concert on the Marillion fan club day was acoustic without a drummer. Interpret this last one as you like.